‘Leviathan’ Named Best Foreign Language Film at Palm Springs Film Fest

Russian drama “Leviathan” was named best foreign language film at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Saturday.

The fest, which comes to a close on Monday, also recognized Haluk Bilginer, who stars in Turkey’s “Winter Sleep,” and “Mommy” star Anne Dorval as best actor and actress in a foreign language film, respectively. PSIFF has screened 196 films from 65 countries.

The Oscar-shortlisted “Leviathan,” directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, was also named best film at the London Film Festival Awards in October.

“At once timely and timeless, this film manages to comment on contemporary issues in a way that is both artistically stunning and deeply humane,” the jury said.

“Winter Sleep,” in which Bilginer stars, was this year’s Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival.

“This actor achieves a superb performance through dialogue, and is even more impressive when he’s silent, planning his next lethal response,” juror Ernesto Diezmartínez Guzman said of Bilginer.

Meanwhile, Dorval from Canada’s “Mommy,” was honored for her expressive range. Jury members praised her transition as “crazy mom” to “crazy wise mom.”

Additionally, the New Voices/New Visions Award was given to Vuk Ršumovic’s Serbian film “No One’s Child,” the Cine Latino Award went to the Spanish movie “Flowers” from filmmakers Jon Garaño and José Mari Goenaga, Eliza Kubarska’s Polish film “Walking Under Water” won the John Schlesinger Award — given to a first-time documentary filmmaker — and “Corn Island,” directed by Georgian George Ovashvili, received the HP Bridging the Borders Award, presented by Cinema Without Borders and Hewlett Packard.

Kosovo’s “Three Windows and a Hanging,” from director Isa Qosja, received the Cinema Without Borders Special Jury Award.

Here’s the full list of winners:

FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign Language Film of the YearLeviathan (Russia), directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev

FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Actor of the Year in a Foreign Language FilmHaluk Bilginer, Winter Sleep (Turkey), directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actressof the Year in a Foreign Language FilmAnne Dorval, Mommy (Canada), directed by Xavier Dolan